Hutchie exit is slammed

THE decision to throw a top boys’ football team out of the Under-16 Scottish Cup has been slammed as “outrageous” by other clubs.

Coaches at Hutchison Vale FC said they were shocked when bosses at the Scottish Youth Football Association (SYFA) decided to eject the team from the national competition after it emerged a team member had not been registered correctly.

Martin Owens, head coach at Leith Athletic FC, said: “It’s shocking. There seems to be more emphasis on paperwork and spelling mistakes than on actually coaching the kids.”

But SYFA bosses insisted the rules had to be applied.

David Little, SYFA chief executive, said: “They have been dealt with along the same lines as other clubs who have committed the same infringement.”